Device for opening cans and discharging their contents



J. S. ORB.

DEVICE FOR OPENING CANS AND DISCHARGING TVHEIR CONTENTS.

APPLICAYON HLED AUG'9I1920A Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES s. 01m, or rocA'rELLo, IDAHO.

DEVICE ron OPENING cANs AND DrscHAnGING THEIR CONTENTS gpecication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

Application led August 9, 1920. Serial 110,402,192.

of Idaho, have invented certain newl and useful Improvements in Devices for Opening Cans and Discharging Their Contents, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for charging battery cells or jars with caustic soda, potash or like chemical agent, and for like purposes.

The device in its preferred form comprises a funnel provided with a cylindrical body or upward extension to receive and encompass the body of the can or, chemical container, a cutter extending upward into the cylindrical body, and a tube or pipe extending downward lrom the funnel and terminating at its lower end in a perforate flaring enlargement or spreader.

The cylindrical body which` is provided with a lateral handle, receives and somewhat closely encompasses. the can containing the soda, potash, or other substance to be supplied to the battery', but leaves suicient of the can projecting above said body to afford a firm handhold by which to press the head of the can, down upon the pointed cutter t puncture said head, and to turn the can so as to cut the head free except for a small space. This causes one vside to drop vand the contents to be released so that they shall fall into and through the funnel, tube, and into the flaring spreader within the jar or cell of the battery.

The cylindrical body prevents any of the contents of the can escaping from the top yof the vfunnel through careless handling,

the tube conveys the contents of the can well down into-the ar or cell, and the lflaring spreader on the lower end of the tube permits them to spread out 'and to be dissolved and taken up by the liquid Iwhich reaches the soda, potash or like agent through the perforated bottom and walls of the spreader.

In introducing chemical agents of one or another kind into battery ce ls or .jars containing a liquid there is often produced a reaction of one or another` sort, or an agitation which tends to throw the contents of the jar or cell out of its `top an-d upon the clothing or person of the attendant. Various of the` agents used are highly injurious to the person and to clothing, and it is to prevent such injury that the charging de- .vice has been designed.

The accompanying drawings show the preferred embodiment of the invention. In these,

Fig. is a vertical sectional view through the device, showing a can in placetherein and the top cut to permit discharge of contents;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the on the line a-a of yF ig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view. showmg the position of the cutter or can opener;

Fig. 4 a horizontal b-o of F ig. l;

Fig. 5 a perspective view of the funnel and its cylindrical top or extension which receives the can; and

F 1g. 6 a perspective View of the cutter used to open the can.

As best seen in Fig. 1 the structure comprises acylindrical body 1, which is secured to and constitutes an upward extension of the funnel 2, the discharge tube 3 of which latter is quite long, to extend well down within a jar or container 4 of the battery to be charged.

At its lower end, the tube 3 is enlarged to produce, or it is furnished with, a flaring holder 5, having perforate walls and bottom to permit ready ingress of liquid.y I have here shown said container of perforated sheet metal, but contemplate any suitable perforate or foraminous material such as is commonly used in the construction of sieves or screens.

Within the funnel and extending a short distance upward within the cylindrical body or extenslon 1, is a cutter 6, of suitable form to puncture the top or cover of a container forced down upon it, and to cut the same on a line slightly within the circumference as the can is rotated about its axis within the body 1, or as the body is rotated about the can. 2.

The depth of the cylindrical body 1 is section on the line enough less than the depth of the can to unimportant, though it is advisable to vmake desired to roit such that the cutter may be readily detached `and removed Jfor sharpeningor replacement in case of need. Small bolts S are shown in the drawing, andl answer quite well.

The device being constructed as described, a can holder 9 containing` the charge to be delivered into the battery jar, is introduced into body l and pressed firmly downwardly until the cutter 6 punctures the lid or closure ot the container. rThis done, the can or the container is rotated, or the two may be rotated in opposite direction, so that the cutter 6 shall cut nearly but not quite a complete circle in the lid, leaving,r only enough uncutto form a hinge to retain one side ot the lid or cover, while the portion so cut out, drops down at an angle, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 and permits the contents to escape from the can or container into the funnel andthence through the tube to the spreader and its loiver end. The perforate spreader may then be moved about in the ar to hasten dissolution of its contents, the handle 'T atfordingna firm hold for the hand and making manipulation easy. In this ivay the battery may be quickly and safely charged, without waste of materials or injury to the attendant or to his clothing.

The structure may be formed up `and its parts joined together in any of the usual ways. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A device for charging batteries, comprising a cylindrical body to receive and somewhat closely encompass a can or container; a funnel attached to the lower end of said body and 'having an elongated tube; and a perforate spreader at the lowerl end of the tube.

2. A charging device comprising a cylindrical body to receive and somewhat closely encompass a can or container, but of a length to permit a portion of the can to protrude from said body; a tunnel attached to the lower end of said-body and provided with a relatively long tube; a perforate spreader at the lower end of the tube to receive the contents of the can and confine them while being dissolved; and a cutter secured to the device in position to puncture the cover of the can as the can is forced into the cylindri cal body, and to cut the lid or cover as the can or the cylindrical body is rotated, either` one relatively to the other.

3. A charging device for batteries, comprising a cylindrical body l adapted to receive and somewhat closely encompass a standard can or container; a discharge tube 3 and an intermediate funnel 2 connecting one end of the bodyand the tube; a perforate spreader 5 secured to the delivery-end of the tube; and a cutter 6 secured Within the structure and having a pointed end extending into the container-receiving space in position to puncture a container as the latter is forced into the cylindrical body, the side edges of the cutter being beveled or sharpened to cut the top of the container upon the rotation of said container or the cylindrical body, one in relation to the other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES s. one. 

